Emma Thompson has joined campaigners and a giant polar bear outside Shell’s London headquarters to protest against the company’s bid to drill in the Arctic.

The actress and screenwriter pledged to be among dozens of people to break a legal injunction preventing Greenpeace activists from crossing a line drawn around the Shell building on the South Bank to stick a giant paw print on the offices with the names of opponents of drilling.

The giant paw carries thousands of names that make up some of the seven million people worldwide, including 600,000 from the UK, who have signed up to save the Arctic from drilling for oil and gas, Greenpeace said.

Greenpeace has manoeuvred a double decker bus-sized polar bear puppet into place outside the building as part of a month of protests which has also seen singer Charlotte Church perform outside the building and an orchestra play Titanic-themed music.

The polar bear, named Aurora after the northern lights seen in the Arctic, has been roaring through Shell’s front door at intervals.

Emma, who read out a poem she had written for the occasion, said: “I’ve been to the Arctic, I’ve seen the beauty, I’ve seen the wildlife, and my heart breaks to think that Shell is up there right now, drilling for the oil that threatens not only their habitat but ours.

Charlotte Church
Charlotte Church (Philip Toscano/PA)

“I’m here to say no. I’m here to say this has to end. I’m one of millions of people demanding that this company pulls out of the Arctic and this huge polar bear is roaring with our voices.”

She added: “Shell has drawn a line around its headquarters and its lawyers say we’re banned from crossing it. Shell has crossed a line when it moved its rig into the Arctic, so I’m going to step over its line.

“When I do, I’ll be carrying the names of thousands of people who stand for Arctic protection. We’re drawing our own line, a line in the ice, and we’re telling Shell to pull back its rig.”

Emma Thompson joins Greenpeace protest
Emma Thompson with the Greenpeace polar bear (Anthony Devlin/PA)

Shell has been given permission by the US government to drill for oil and gas in Arctic waters off Alaska, prompting criticism of President Barack Obama, who has been otherwise driving efforts to tackle climate change.

The company, which has invested billions of dollars in drilling in the Arctic, has just a few weeks to explore for oil before the winter closes in.

Greenpeace warns there is a high risk of an oil spill if wells are drilled, which in the Arctic would be impossible to clean up, damaging the area’s unique wildlife.

Experts have warned that exploiting the Arctic for oil and gas is not compatible with efforts to tackle climate change and keep global temperatures from rising by more than 2C (3.6F) above pre-industrial levels.

A Shell spokeswoman said: “Shell respects the right of people to protest against the activities we undertake to ensure the world’s energy needs are met.

“However, it is disappointing that Greenpeace continually chooses to focus on mounting publicity stunts rather than engage constructively in the debate about how to meet the world’s growing demand for energy while reducing CO2 emissions.

“We believe we can play an important role in developing the Arctic’s energy resources. We choose to explore there because we have the expertise and experience to operate responsibly and be profitable at the same time.”

Juliet Davenport, chief executive of renewable electricity company Good Energy, said: “We need to divest from fossil fuel sources and switch to cleaner, renewable sources of power if we want to keep the planet on course for no more than 2C warming.

“The economic argument for divestment is compelling; with stocks in renewables out-performing traditional investments, it’s a no-brainer from an economic and an environmental point of view.”